| Eretz Israel Museum Tel-Aviv, The Hidden History of Tel-Aviv Exhibit |
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TEL AVIV 2009 is going to be an exciting year in Tel-Aviv: the city is celebrating its first centenary. In order to entertain and educate the public – old residents as well as first time visitors – the municipal government prepared a series of tributes, shows, and cultural events. One such event is taking place at the Eretz Israel Museum, where the curator recently unveiled “The Hidden History of Tel-Aviv,” an exhibit that uncovers the city's less familiar historical layers.  Tel Aviv Casting Lots The exhibition comes to life by employing both multimedia and more conventional accessories. Artifacts are supported by photographs, maps, wall art, and a brisk video presentation that puts everything in context. The arrangement of the displays transforms the interior into a labyrinthine setting, while artistic approach to lighting contributes to a sense of intimate discovery.  Wall Art, Tel Aviv The core of the show consists of the ancient artifacts (jewelry, pottery, tools, and utensils) representative of civilizations that led up to the foundation of modern Tel-Aviv in 1909. From start to finish, we witness an archaeological and anthropological exposition. It's confined geographically by today's municipal limits, but is practically unlimited in its temporal scope. Artifacts on display include objects from neolithic, iron, and bronze ages, as well as from the time of Greek, Roman, and Ottoman rule. These finds were recovered by archaeologists as the city grew, and because of it: excavations performed for construction purposes became archaeological sites upon accidental discoveries. The strict geographical focus resulted in exceptional consistency in displayed items. It's possible to trace the evolution of human civilization – all in today's Tel-Aviv area – by observing such a basic utensil as the pot. A coarse and large clay pot, decorated with totemic or idol-like motifs in the iron age, 1500 BC, gains in refinement and elaboration, until it emerges as an exquisite glass vase under the Ottoman rule in 1500 CE. The exhibit becomes an historical cross-section, and may act as Tel-Aviv's symbolical understructure. It goes thousands of years back in time, providing sudden, intimate glances at how people lived; at how they worked, cooked, ate, and worshipped. One of the show's main goals is to establish Tel-Aviv's ancient roots – to shed light on the long period when the city didn't yet exist in its contemporary form and shape, yet when people of various origins, faiths and traditions flourished in the exact geographical location where Tel-Aviv flourishes today. Upon completing the tour, the 1909 photograph that shows the distribution of land (by casting of lots) in what was to become Tel-Aviv appears as misleading. The desolate sand dunes hide in their depths thousands of years of Mediterranean civilization. What we see on the photograph is a start of another era – which recently reached its first centenary. Taking into account all the preceding eras, this is still very young.  Artifacts, Tel Aviv The show is remarkable for its range, and presents a rare opportunity to learn about Tel-Aviv in one sweeping tour. Eventually, its most striking effect lies in its capacity to transform visitors into the remote past, prompting everyone to contemplate history. Official Website: http://www.eretzmuseum.org.il/main/site/index.php3?mod=firstPage&langId=1 Bookmark us: 
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